Signal mght



51mm. LIGHT Filed Oct. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SIGNAL LIGHT Filed Oct. 12. 192.5 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

' 'INVENTOR guzwgw 0M waw Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

. UNITED STATES I 1,555,481 ATENT OFFICE- ZAGHARIAS OLSSON, or WESTPORT, oonnnorrooir, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES 1:. Warren,

or NEW YORK, iLY.

Application filed October 12, 1923.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ZAOHARIAS OLssoN, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a resident of lVestport, county of Fairfield, State '6 of Connecticut. have invented an Improvement in Signal'Lights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal lights and with regard to its more specific features to such apparatus effecting a flashing or intermittent light.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above nature efficient and reliable in operation and capable of meeting the requirements of practical use in a highly satisfactory manner. Another objects is to provide apparatus of the above nature of simple and compact construction. -Another object is to provide 80 such apparatus capable of operating economically under all conditions of use and at all times dependably. Other objects will be input obvious or in part pointed out I hereinafter. I The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the fol- '45 1, there is shown an outer casing or shell 10 substantially cylindrical in form, preferably formed of sheet metal and enclosed at its upper end by a cover which is hinged thereto at one side as at 11 and has a detachable catch 12 at the opposite side. f The lower end of the casing 10 is closed by a sheet metal plate member 13 supported as by an annular shoulder l l'formed by turning in the metal of the casing 10. The transverse plate member 13 forms a support SIGNAL LIGHT.

Serial No. 668,089.

for a lamp mechanism which rests thereon withinthe casing 10. The source of light may comprise an oil lamp and is shown as such in the drawings. The burner comprising in this instance a wick support 15 and regulating mechanism 16 therefor is mounted upon a container 17 which forms a reservoirfor fuel to supply the light. Secured to the upper surface of the reservoir 17 are four upstanding sheet metal walls 18 which form an inner casing about the burner 15. The top of this inner casing isclosed except at the oentralportion by a sheet metal plate 19 and about the central opening in the member 19 rest an upstanding cylindrical extension 20 open at its end. In Figure 2 v the apparatus is shown with the hinged cover member, which will be later described in detail, removed and reference to this figure shows more clearly the construction of the parts just described.

In each wall 18 of the innerlamp casing is provided an opening 21 substantially on a level withthe flame of the burner 15. These openings 21 are provided with glass coverings 22 held in place thereover as bv flanges 23 one of which, as shown at 24 in Figure 2, is preferably hinged to the wall of the casing to permit convenient access to the burner therein. The walls of the outer casing 10 are provided with flanged openings 25 one positioned substantially opposite each opening 21 in the inner casing. WVithin the openings 25 are held lenses 28 of any desired type. The lenses 26 are preferablyheld in position over the openings25 in conjunction with any desired form of shade as 27 by means of annular rings 28 as is shown at the right hand side of Figure 1. The light rays from the source of light at the burner 15 therefore have access through the openings 21' of the inner casing and thence, directly outward through the openings 25'of the, outer casing.

Considering now the construction of the m0 hinged cover member closingthe' top of the outer casing, 10, there is provided a sloping roof member 29 the edge portion 29 .of which overhangs the wall 30 which mates with the upper edge of the casing member 10. The wall 30 beneath the overhanging edge 29 is provided with openings 31 for the admission of air and an annular member 32 depending from the roof 29 serves tween the walls of the inner and outer casings, as indicated by the arrows. At their lower portions the walls 18 of the inner casing are provided with openings 33 through which the air is admitted from the space between the two casings to supply the light. The heated gases or products of combustion from the burner rise upwardly through the passage in the top of the inner casing provided by the cylindrical extension 20. The extension 20 thus forms substantially a chimney and the upper edge thereof rests against the inner surface of the roof member 29 which is provided with a central opening surrounded by an upstanding flange 34 to permit the passage of the products of combustion or heated gases therethrough. The flange '34 is surrounded by-a second cylindrical member 35 secured to the outer surface of the roof 29. The top of the member 35 is closed by a cap 36 the edge 36 of which is shaped to overhang as shown. Beneath the overhanging edge 36 of the member 36 the member 35 is provided with openings 37 permitting the passage outwar'dly of gases from the chimney 20.

The air for supplying the burner 15 thereforecis admitted through the openings 31 adjacent the top portion of the casing 10, passes downwardly between the walls of the inner and outer casings and through the openings 33 to the burner. The products of combustion pass upwardly from the burner through the chimney 20 and thence outwardly through the openings 37. The overhanging edges 29 and 36 protect the inlet and outlet passages so that the effect of wind upon the light is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, a pre-heating effect of the air for the burner is obtained during its passage downwardly between the Walls of the inner and outer casings.

Secured to the lower portion of the burner 15 are a pair of upwardly extending wire members 38 which terminate part way through the chimney member 20 in a cross member 39. The member 39 is provided at its center and substantially at the vertical axis of the chimney 20 with a cup-shaped depression 40 which is preferably glasslined. This depression 40 forms a bearing for a pivot point 41 which is connected by a plurality-of vanes 42 with the inner wall of the upper portion of a cylindrical sleeve member 43. The sleeve member 43 extends downwardly about the burner 15 and the light and is rotatably supported by the pivot-pin 41 upon the supporting arms 38. The vanes 42 are shaped toprovide a propeller which, actuated by the products of combustion or heated gases rising from the light rotates the sleeve 43 upon its pivot 41. It will be seen that the sleeve 43 serves to effectively guide the gases upwardly to the vanes 42 of the propeller so that the full effect of the rising gases is obtained. The rotation of the pivot-pin 41 in fits-glasslined bearing 40 is substantially nonfrictional and the freely hanging sleeve 43 is therefore readily rotated about its axis by the current of ascending gases.

Substantially registering with the light from the burner 15 are provided openings 44 shown as two in number in the sleeve 43. As the sleeve is rotated therefore the openings 44 coming intermittently and successively opposite the openings 21 and 25 in the casings cause the rays of light from the light source to flash intermittently through each of the lenses 26 supported in the openings 25. In this manner a flashing light is had at each of the openings of the outer casing 10. ,These openings 44 are preferably provided with transparent glasses 44" which may differ one from another in color and thus give successive flashes of correspondingly changing color.

l/Vhen the cover is swung back about its hinge 11 the inner mechanism, comprising the fuel container 17, the burner 15 and the inner casing 18, is removable as a unit from the outer casing 10. The parts of the light are therefore all conveniently accessible. As is shown in Figure 2 there are preferably provided in the sides of the fuel reservoir 17 a pair of depressions 45 registering with rods 46 secured to the inner surfacev of the casing 10 to prevent the fuel reservoir and the parts connected thereto from moving about within the outer casing. The light throughout is sturdily constructed of sheet metal and capable of withstanding hard usage. The flashing of the light is brought about in an effective manner with simple apparatus and without the necessity of auxiliary power means. The construction throughout is one which attains many practical and useful advantages.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention: 1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, an outer casing having means permitting passage of light rays therethrough closed at its lower end and provided with a hinged cover forming a closure at its upper end, an inner casing having means permitting the passage of light rays there'- through removably supported in said first casing and having adjacent its lower end openings for the admission of air, a burner positioned within said inner casing, means for admitting air adjacent the upper portion of said outer casing, said two casings forming a passage for said air downwardly therebetween and to said openings in the lower portion of said inner casing to supply said burner, a sleeve pivotally supported above said burner and depending freely about the same, said sleeve having a plurality of openings substantially on a level with said burner for the passage of light rays therethrough and said sleeve providing a passage upwardly for products of combustion from said burner a propeller in said sleeve adapted to be driven by the rising products of combustion therein to rotate said sleeve about said burner, and a passage through said hinged cover of said outer casing substantially registering with the upper end of said sleeve for the dischargeof products of combustion therefrom.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a fuel container, a burner centrally positioned thereon, an inner casing of sheet metal supported upon said container extending upwardly about said burner and having in its sides a plurality of openings closed by translucent material for the passage of light rays therethrough and having in its lower portion openings for the admission of air to said burner, an outer casing of sheet metal supporting said fuel container in its lower portion and extending upwardly about said inner casing and spaced therefrom to provide an air passage, said outer casing having a plurality of openings covered by translucent material and sub stantially registering with said openings of said inner casing, a removable cover for said outer casing having openings for the admission of air to said passage between said two casings, said air being adapted to pass downwardly through said passage and thence through said openings in the bottom portion of said inner casing to supply said burner, a wire supporting frame extending upwardly from said burner, a sleeve rotatably supported by said frame and depending about said burner within said inner casing and projecting through the upper end of the latter and forming a passage for leading products of combustion upwardly, said sleeve having openings therein substantially on a level with said openings in said inner and outer casings for the passage of light rays, a propeller in the upper portion of said sleeve adapted to be driven by the rising products of combustion therein to rotate said sleeve about said burner, a central opening in said removable cover substantially registering with the upper end of said sleeve for the discharge of products of combustion therefrom, a sheet metal flange extending upwardly about said last opening to guide the products of combustion upwardly and having lateral openings for the discharge thereof, and a sheet metal cap upon said flange, the edge thereof overhanging said openings to protect the burner from back draft due to wind.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a fuel container, a burner centrally positioned thereon, an inner casing supported upon said container and extending upwardly about said burner adapted to permit passage of light rays outwardly from said burner and having openings at its lower portion for the admission of air, an outer casing supporting said fuel container in its lower portion extending upwardly about said inner casing and spaced therefrom to provide an air passage, said outer casing being closed at the bottom and hav ing at its upper portion means for the admission of air, said air being adapted to pass downwardly through said passage and through the openings in the lower portion of said inner casing to supply said burner, a wire supporting frame extending upwardly from said burner, a cup-shaped bearing at the upper portion of said frame, a sleeve member pivotally supported in said bearing and depending about said burner within said inner casing, said sleeve having openings therein for the passage of light rays therethrough from said burner and forming a passage for leading products of combustion upwardly, a propeller in said sleeve adapted to be driven by the rising products of combustion therein to rotate said sleeve about said burner, and means substantially registering with the upper end of said sleeve for the removal of products of combustion passing upwardly therethrough.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 8th day of October, 1923.

ZACHARIAS OLSSON. 

